Endless band devices



Jam 24 1956 J. A. cuTHBERTsoN ENDLEss BAND DEVICES 9 Sheets-Sheet l Filed march 1s, 1953 4H u 2 mnvuhw G m H r/ m mHlHu Slilmun m..uHHw

- Inuenior Jamas www@ Cumberhon Jan. 24, 1956 J. A. cUTHBERTsoN ENDLESS BAND DEVICES 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 13, 1953 Mb Lnfhm QUA Altorney Jn- 24 1956 J. A. cuTHBERTsoN 2,732,265

ENDLESS BAND DEVICES Filed March l5, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Inventor James Pwnbcd Cuih beYl'SOn gib Attorneys,

Jan- 24, 1955 Y IJ. A. cUTHBERTsoN 2,722,265

ENDLEss BAND DEVICES Filed arch 13, 1953 9 Shqets-Sheet 4 Jan. 24, 1956 J. A. cuTHBERTsoN ENDLESS BAND DEVICES 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed latch 13, 1953 Inventor Jaume s fd'n bdd Qui-h bergen ai Attorney s Jan- 24, 1956 J. A. cu'rHBERTsoN ENDLESS BAND DEVICES 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 13, 1953 F/G. A9.

F/G. 2O

Inventor Jam; s Hr chbmd CmLhbeYhson Jan. 24, 1956 J. A. cuTHBERTsoN 2,732,265

ENnLEss BAND DEVICES Filed larch 13, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 Q Q (Q) Q Q /f/Q En Attorney sV Jan. 24, 1956 J. A. CUTHBERTSON 2,732,265

ENDLESS BAND DEVICES Filed lawn 13,' 1953 a sheets-sheet e Jan- 24, 1956 J. A. cuTHBERTsoN ENDLESS BAND DEVICES' 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed ua'rch 13, 195s Je@ A Homey S United States Patent() ENDLESS BAND DEVICES James A. Cuthbertson, Biggar, Scotland Application March 13, 1953, Serial No. 342,249

Claims priority, application Great Britain March '7, 1'949 12 Claims. (Cl. 30S- 10) This invention relates to endless band devices and is especially applicable to self-laying endless tracks for tractors and other vehicles, and endless band conveyors.

The present application forms a continuation-impart of my prior application Serial No. 148,040, tiled March 7, 1950, now abandoned.

An object of the invention is to provide an endless track for a vehicle, in which any undue increase in tension at one longitudinal edge of the track is transmitted transversely of the track to avoid excessive loading and consequent breakage at said edge.

A further object of the invention is to provide an endless track in which any undue increase in tension at one longitudinal edge is transmitted directly across the entire width of the track to the other longitudinal edge so that damage to the track due to excessive loading is obviated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an endless band device composed of a series of interconnected ilexible units which are easily handled for removal and replacement and in which the metallic parts transmitting `the 4tension are protected against the weather.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: l

Fig. l is a side elevation of a portion of an endless track. v

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the track portion.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively side land front elevations of the track engaging the driving sprocket of a tractor.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one form of track unit.

Fig. 6 isa sectional view on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of Fig. 5.

Figs. 9 and l0 are plan views of the outerand inner faces respectively Vof a track embodying units .according to Fig. 5.

Fig. ll is a fragmentary plan view of a second vform of track unit. j

Figs. 12 and 13 are sectional views .respectively on the ,lines XII-XII and XIII- XIII of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of a third form of track unit.

Fig. 15 is a vsectional view in the .direction of the arrow XV in Fig. 14. i

Fig. 16 is a part-sectional view of the .track 4passing around the sprocket wheel.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary plan view of 4a track embodying a fourth form of unit.

Fig. 18 is a side view of Fig. .17.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of a modified Vform of the track unit according to Fig. 5. v

Fig. 20 is a sectional View on the line XX-XX of Fig. 19.

Figs. 2l and 22 are plan views yof 4the outer and inner faces respectively of a track embodying .units according to Fig. 19. A Y

Fig. 23 is a plan view of another form of track unit.

2,732,265 Patented Jan. 24, 1956 Fig. 24 is a fragmentary plan view of an endless band conveyor.

Fig. 25 is a sectional view on the line XXV-XYV of Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is an end view of Fig. 24.

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary plan view of a conveyor with a second form of band unit, and

Fig. 28 is a side view of Fig. 27.

Referring to the drawings:

VIn Figs. l to 4, an endless track for a tractor consists of a series of exible, abutting units 1 joined to each other by connection means in the form of a pair of outer and inner metal plates 2 and 3 and clamping bolts 4 extending through adjacent units and interconnecting the plates 2 and 3. The plates 2 have thereon outwardly projecting spades 5 for gripping the soil, and each plate 3 has secured thereon by the bolts 4, a pair of teeth 6 which engage the cross members 7 of a driving sprocket 8 on the tractor (not shown).

In Figs. 5 to 10 each track unit 1 comprises a multivstrand Wire cable 9 looped sinuously in a transverse direction around series of pulley-wheel guides 10 disposed in two longitudinally spaced transverse series with the guides in each series staggered relative to those in the other series. The loops are formed about the pulleywheel axes which are normal to the ground when the unit is in contact therewith. The cable 9 thus passes sinuously around all the guides 16 and forms a transverse series of loops which -lie in a plane parallel to the ground when the unit is in contact with the ground, and whereof the limbs form transversely spaced ilexible stretches 9A between the series of guides. Clamps 11 of D-shape or semicircular shape similar to a half bobbin -or half pulley, secure the cable ends, the side walls of said clamps being deformed towards each other in a press so as to grip the cable ends (Fig. 8). A transverse flexible supporting strip 12 of canvas or other semi-stii material engages vthe inner side of the flexible stretches y9A which are maintained by the strip against sharp bending on passage of the track around the sprocket 8 (Fig. 16). Thus, breakage of the stretches 9A due to repeated sharp bending is obviated or mitigated. The canvas strip 12 may be omitted and replaced by rubber when the track is to operate under light load. The guides 10 and clamps 11 have bolt openings 13 therethrough to permit interconnection of a series of the units to form a track. The tension member is wholly and permanently venclosed in, and the guide means are permanently ernbedded in, a block 14 of rubber or rubberlike material, for example, by moulding, to form a exible, rectangular unit with the openings 13 therethrough. As shown, the top and bottom faces of the Vguides 10 and clamps 11 may be free of rubber.

The successive units are constructed separately but adjacent units are joined together -by passing the bolts 4 through said openings 13 in the guides 1t! and clamps 11. v The metal plates 2 and 3 joining successive units 1 may leave longitudinal clearance between them of say one and a half inches and flexibility of the track at said units is allowed at this clearance.

y The tension in the .track is transmitted through the ilexible stretches 9A of the cable 9, and any increase of tension in one or more stretches 9A of a unit relative to the tension in the other stretches 9A of the unit, for instance arising from transverse sloping of the track and consequent increase in tension at one longitudinal edge of the track, is distributed around the guides 10 and through said other stretches 9A, so Athat breakage of the cable 9 due to excessive load is obviated. Also, by enclosing or embedding the metallic 4parts 9-11 in a unitary manner in rubber, there is formed a flexible track junit which vis yeasily handled for removal and replacement and has its metallic parts protected against the weather.

Referring to Figs. 11 to 13 the guide means consist of transversely spaced pairs of grooved guide members 15 and 16, and wire cables 17 engage in the grooves of and interconnect said members. Each member 15 has around it a single U-loop 17A of the cable 17 which forms an outer pair of flexible stretches 17B. Each member 16 has a spaced pair of guides 18 around which the cable 17 extends to form two U-loops 17C and an inner pair of exible stretches 17D, the ends of the stretches 17D being anchored to the member 15. The grooves in the guide members 15 and 16 are disposed so that the loops are formed about axes normal to the ground when the unit is in contact therewith. Any increase in tension in, say, adjacent stretches 17B and 17D is distributed around guide 15 to the remaining stretches 17B and 17D. The units are interconnected as previously described in connection with Fig. 1, the clamping bolts passing through holes 13 in the guide members.

Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, each pair of grooved guide members 18 and 19 are engaged in their grooves by an endless ilexible cable 20 forming parallel flexible stretches between the members, any increase in tension in one stretch being distributed around the members to the other stretch. As previously, the grooves in the guide members are disposed so that the loops are formed about axes normal to the ground, and the units are interconnected by passing the clamping bolts through the openings 13.

Referring to Figs. 17 and 18, the guides 10 are in the form of fixed half-pulleys with their axes normal to the ground, and are spaced somewhat further apart in each row as compared with Fig. 5, so that the cable 9 extends in a somewhat diagonal but generally longitudinal direction between each guide, and the rubber is moulded and vulcanized so as to present concavities 21 on the leading and trailing edges of the units' between adjacent guides 10. The guides of the adjacent track units 1 are adapted to nest in these concavities 21, the concavities in one unit receiving the projecting guides of the other unit and vice versa. The grooves of the half-pulleys have divergent mouths 10 to prevent chang of the cable.

The rubber moulding 4 on each guide 10 is of reduced height on inner and outer surfaces, thus forming transverse grooves 22 in which the transverse metal joining plates 2 and 3 seat substantially ilush, said plates being bolted together by the aforesaid clamping bolts extending through the openings 13 in the guides and clamps. The inner metal plate 3 is provided with projecting lugs or teeth (not shown) adapted to engage the driving sprocket or the like. The track units may be moulded with integral outer rubber treads 23 whose cross section is indicated diagrammatically at 23A. In operation, flexing of the track occurs at each track unit between the rows of guides.

In Figs'. 19 to 22, the cable 9 passes sinuously around all the guides 10 and then extends transversely alongside one series of guides, as at 9B, and has its ends joined together at 9C, thereby forming an endless band extending across substantially the entire unit width, the transverse length 9B enabling transmission of tension directly across the unit.

Any increase of tension on one or more stretches 9A of a unit relative to the tension in the other stretches 9A of the unit, for instance arising from transverse sloping of the track and consequent increase in tension at one longitudinal edge of the track, is distributed around the guides 10 and through said other stretches 9A, and is also transmitted directly through the length 9B, so that breakage of the cable 9 due to excessive load is obviated.

Referring to Fig. 23, two longitudinally spaced pairs of pulley wheel guides 1S and 16 are engaged in their grooves by an endless exible cable 9 with its ends joined at 9C, the cable forming parallel flexible stretches 9A between the pairs of guides and forming transverse lengths 9B extending across substantially the entire unit width between the guides of each pair. Any increase in tension in one stretch 9A is distributed around the guides 15 and 16 and is transmitted directly across substantially the entire unit width, through the lengths 9B, to the other stretch 9A. As previously, the units are interconnected by passing the clamping bolts through the openings 13.

Referring to Figs. 24 to 26, the endless band of a conveyor consists of a series of tlexible, abutting units 1 joined to each other by connection means in the form of transversely spaced pairs of top and bottom metal plates 17 and 18, and rivets 19 extending through adjacent units and interconnecting the pairs of plates 17 and 18.

Each band unit 1 consists of a multi-strand wire cable 9 looped sinuously, in a tranverse direction and lying substantially parallel to that plane of the unit which makes contact with the material to be conveyed, around series of pulley-wheel guides 10 disposed in two longitudinally spaced transverse series with the guides in each series staggered relative to those in the other series. The cable 9 thus passes sinuously around all the guides 10 and forms a transverse series of substantially co-planar loops whereof the limbs form transversely spaced ilexible stretches 9A between the series of guides. The cable then extends transversely alongside one series of guides, as at 9B, and has its ends joined together at 9C, thereby forming an endless band extending across substantially the entire conveyor width, the transverse length 9B enabling transmission of tension directly across the conveyor. The guides 10 have openings therethrough which accommodate the shanks of the rivets 19 which with the plates 17, 18 interconnect a series of the units to form an endless conveyor band. The tension member is wholly and permanently enclosed in, and the guide means is permanently embedded in a block 14 of rubber or rubber like material for example by moulding, to form a ilexible, rectangular unit. Reinforcing strips 20 of canvas or other semi-stiif material are embedded in the block and engage the top and bottom faces of the tension member. The top and bottom faces of the guides 10 may be free of rubber as shown. The plates 17, 18 are embedded in recesses 21 formed in the block 14 so as to lie ush with the block surface.

In use of the conveyor, longitudinal clearances 22 between successive transverse series of plates 17, 18 permit longitudinal ilexing of the band, and transverse clearances 23 between the pairs of plates 17 and 18 of each transverse series permit lateral exing, or cupping, of the band. Moreover, by virtue of the ready transmission of tension through the stretch 9B transversely of the conveyor, a relatively small tensile force at one side of the conveyor causes an extension of the conveyor at that side and corresponding contraction at the other side and bending of the conveyor in its own plane is thus possible in the event that material is to be conveyed round a corner. By embedding the metallic parts 9 and 10 in a unitary manner in rubber, there is formed a ilexible belt unit which is easily handled and replaced and has its metallic parts protected from the weather.

In Figs. 27 and 28 the conveyor is a modification of the track of Figs. 17 and 18. The cable 9 extends in a somewhat diagonal but generally longitudinal direction between each pulley wheel 10, and the rubber of the block 1 is moulded and vulcanized so as to present concavities 21 on the front and rear edges of the blocks between adjacent pulley wheels 10. The end pulley wheels 11 are in the form of fixed half-pulleys to which the ends of the cable 9 are secured. Reinforcing canvas strips 20 are provided in the block 1 above and below the cable 9. The pulley wheels 10 of adjacent blocks 1 are adapted to nest in these concavities 11, the concavities in one `unit receiving -the projecting pulley wheels of the other unit and vice versa. Transverse metal joining plates 2 and 3 are secured together by rivets 19 extending `through the openings in the pulley wheels and 11. In operation, longitudinal flexing of the band occurs at each unit between the rows of pulley wheels 10. By forming veach plate 2 and 3 as a series of short plates spaced from each other, as indicated in dot-dash lines at A in Fig. 4, provision is made for lateral flexing or cupping of theband.

The metal cable 9 of -each embodiment may be replaced, vfor example, 'by resilient metal strip or bar, or by nylon or other textile cables, or by any other suitable exible members.

As will be evident, `the const-ruction of the pulley Wheels shown in the drawings facilitates the transmission of any increase in tension in one stretch of the flexible tension member to another stretch or stretches.

I claim: p

l. An endless band device comprising a series of exible units each having two longitudinally spaced transversely extending rows of guide means and a flexible tension member extending in a'transverse zig-zag path around the guide means from one row of guide means to the other to form a `transverse series of substantially coplanar loops, the tension member being capable of deformation in the plane ofthe loops so .as to be slidable around the guide means under uneven tension transversely of the device, and connection Ameans interconnecting `the guide means of adjacent units, whereby tension in the device is transmitted through said loops and an increase in tension in any one loop is distributed around the guide means to another loop.

2. An endless band device .comprising a series of exible moulded .rubber .pads .each having embedded therein so as to be unitary therewith longitudinally spaced guide means and a exible tension member looped around at least one of the guide means to form transversely spaced flexible stretches between the guide means, the tension member being capable of deformation in the plane of the loop so as to be slidable around the guide means under uneven tension transversely of the device, and connection means interconnecting the guide means of adjacent pads so that tension in the device is transmitted through said stretches and an increase in tension in any one stretch is distributed around the guide means to another stretch.

3. An endless band device according to claim 2, having a flexible supporting layer of semi-stiff material located under the ilexible stretches of the tension member so that said stretches are maintained against angular bending on passage of the device around the sprocket.

4. An endless band device comprising a series of ilexible moulded rubber units each having embedded therein so as to be unitary therewith two longitudinally spaced transverse rows of guides with openings therethrough, the guides of one row being staggered in relation to the guides of the other row, and a ilexible tension member looped in a transverse zig-zag path around the guides from one row of guides to the other to form transversely spaced substantially coplanar straight stretches between the rows of guides, the tension member being capable of deformation in the plane of the stretches so as to be slidable around the guides under uneven tension transversely of the device, outer and inner plates between which are located the guides of adjacent units, and clamping bolts extending through the guide openings and interconnecting said plates, whereby tension in the device is transmitted through said stretches and an increase in tension in any one stretch is distributed around a guide to another stretch.

5. A ilexible unit for an endless band device comprising a moulded rubber pad having embedded therein so as to be unitary therewith longitudinally spaced guide means adapted lfor connection to the guide means of adjacent yunits to formA the endless band device, and a flexible tension member looped bodily around atleast one of the guide means so 4that two longitudinally spaced stretches of :the tension member form transversely spaced flexible stretches between the guide means, the tension member being capable of deformation in the plane of the loop so as to be slidable around the guide means under luneven tension transversely of the unit.

6. An endless band device -comprising a series of exible units, each unit having two longitudinally spaced transversely extending rows of pulley wheels, the pulley wheels in one row being staggered in relation to those in the other row and the axis of each pulley wheel being substantially lnormal to the plane of the band, and a flexible cable interconnecting the pulley wheels, the cable extending sinuously around the pulley wheels from one row of pulley wheels to the other to form a transverse series of loops lying substantially in a plane parallel to the band surface so that transversely spaced flexible stretches are formed between the pulley wheels, and the cable being wholly and permanently enclosed in, and the pulley wheels being permanently embedded in, rubber material to form the flexible unit, pairs of outer and inner connecting members for the units, each pair having located between them transverse rows of pulley wheels of a pair of adjacent units, and clamping means extending through openings in the pulley wheels and detachably interconnecting the connecting members.

7. An endless band device comprising a series of ilexible units, each unit having two longitudinally spaced transversely extending rows of guides, the guides in one row being staggered relative to those in the other row, and a iexiblel `tension member interconnecting the guides, .the tension member extending sinuously around the guides from one row of guides to the other to form a transverse series of loops lying substantially in a plane parallel to the face of the band so that transversely spaced exible stretches are formed between the guides, the tension member being capable of deformation in the plane of the loops so as to be slidable around the guides under uneven tension transversely of the device, the tension member being wholly and permanently enclosed in, and the guides being permanently embedded in, rubber material to form the exible unit, each unit having concavities formed at its front and rear edges between adjacent guides so that the guides at the front edge of one unit nest in the concavities of the rear edge ot an adjacent unit, pairs of outer and inner connecting members for the units, each pair having located between them transverse series of guides ot a pair of adjacent units, and clamping means extending through openings in the guides and detachably interconnecting the connecting members.

8. An endless band device, comprising a series of exible units, each unit having two longitudinally spaced transversely extending rows of guides, at least one row of guides being disposed across substantially the entire width of the unit and the guides in one row being staggered relative to those in the other row, and an endless exible tension member interconnecting the guides, the tension member having one portion extending sinuously around the guides from one row of guides to the other to form a transverse series of loops lying substantially in a plane parallel to the ground when the unit is in contact with the ground so that transversely spaced ilexible stretches are formed between the rows of guides, and having another portion extending alongside one row of guides across substantially the entire width of the unit, and the tension member being capable of deformation in the plane of the loops so as to be slidable around the guides under uneven tension transversely of the band and being wholly and permanently enclosed in, and the guides being permanently embedded in, rubber material to form the exible unit, pairs of outer and 7 inner connecting members for the units, and clamping means extending through openings in the guides and interconnecting the connecting members.

9. An endless band device comprising a series of flexible units, each unit having longitudinally spaced abutment means and a exible tension member interconnecting the abutment means, at least one abutment means being disposed transversely across substantially the entire width of the unit and the tension member being looped slidably around said transversely disposed abutment means in a transverse direction so that transversely spaced longitudinal stretches are formed between the abutment means and a transverse stretch is formed across substantially the entire width of the unit and increase in tension in one longitudinal stretch is transmitted through the transverse stretch directly across substantially the entire width of the unit to another longitudinal stretch, and the tension member being in a unitary manner enclosed in, and the abutment means being in a unitary manner embedded in, rubber or rubberlike material to form the flexible unit, and connection means interconnecting the abutment means of adjacent flexible units,

10. An endless band device according to claim 9, wherein the abutment means of each unit consists of two longitudinally spaced series of abutments extending transversely across substantially the entire width of the unit, the abutments in each series being staggered relative to those in the other series, and wherein the tension member is endless, having one portion slidably looped in a transverse zig-zag path around the abutments from one series to the other to form the longitudinal stretches, and having another portion extending transversely alongside one series of abutments across substantially the entire width of the unit to form the transverse stretch which assists in transmitting tension directly from a longitudinal stretch at one side of the unit to a longitudinal stretch at the other side of the unit.

11. A exible unit for an endless band device comprising longitudinally spaced abutment means and a flexible tension member interconnecting the abutment means, at least one abutment means being disposed transversely across substantially the entire width of the unit and the tension member being looped slidably around said transversely disposed abutment means in a transverse direction so that transversely spaced longitudinal stretches are formed between the abutment means and a trans- -verse stretch is formed across substantially the entire References Citedr in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,331,287 Allen et al. Oct. 12, 1943 2,338,550 Sloman et al. Jan. 4, 1944 2,351,647 Wales June 20, 1944 2,410,507 Knight Nov. 5, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 471,916 Germany Feb. 19, 1929 170,900 Switzerland July 31, 1934 893,727 France Feb. 21, 1944 

